Anyone living or dealing with chronic or persistent pain knows the necessity to ease the pain and suffering. Thankfully there are many natural ways to manage chronic pain and move forward towards a healthier, happier and pain-free lifestyle.
What is chronic pain?
Chronic pain refers to pain that lasts for more than 3 months. It is often a complex condition, and everyone experiences it differently. The pain can range from mild to severe.
Rather than acute pain that comes from an injury and heals over time, chronic pain can be a daily battle for many who suffer from chronic pain.
Chronic pain is often caused by an injury that results in nerve pain or a joint condition. Other causes can be osteoporosis, arthritis, or other musculoskeletal conditions. And sometimes there can be no obvious cause of chronic pain.
It is important to note that acute pain can develop into a chronic pain condition if left untreated. The longer pain remains untreated, the greater the risk of pain becoming chronic.
Treating chronic pain naturally
As frustrating and painful as chronic pain can be, there is never going to be one quick fix or a magic pill. Have a more proactive approach towards your health and using a range of natural strategies will often assist in achieving the best relief from pain. .
The good news is that chronic pain sufferers can ease their pain and live their best lives, if the right mix of therapies are used.
We know that people who actively manage their pain achieve some great results as opposed to relying on passive therapies such as medication or surgery.
The aim of managing chronic pain is not to stop the pain from ever occurring as that is simply not possible for many.
Instead, the aim is to stop the pain disrupting your life and allow you to do the things you enjoy, such as socialising, working and being active.
So, here are the best ways to manage chronic pain naturally and regularly:
Natural pain relief
Look for pain relief capsules or creams that contain the active ingredients Palmidrol (PEA) and Curcumin. These ultra-high potency liquid plant extracts with higher bioavailability and efficacy are a combination of ingredients traditionally used in Western herbal medicine.
The two ingredients work in synergy to ease and relieve pain. Great for rheumatic aches and muscular sprains, as well as inflammation and sports injuries.
Muscle massage
Stretch and relax
Stretching the soft tissues (the muscles, ligaments, and tendons) in and around the spine, or in your arms and legs can dramatically help reduce chronic pain, as our body loves to move in this way. You can combine stretching techniques with meditation for a double-pronged approach!
Avoiding inflammatory foods
Highly processed foods can create a lot of inflammation in the body making the pain worse. Plant based, healthy non-inflammatory foods can help your body reduce inflammation and ease pain in the body.
Kinesio Taping
Kinesio tape contains either 100% cotton and elastic fibres or it can be a blend of polyester and cotton with elastic fibres. It is applied by physiotherapists, podiatrists, and chiropractors and the tape’s lifting action may help relieve pressure on pain receptors directly under the skin.
Kinesiology taping has been shown to help relieve pain through reduction of swelling, easing muscle fatigue, and can assist with weak or injured muscles.
Wear supportive shoes
Whether it’s a back injury or chronic leg pain, making sure your feet are aligned every day can also offer some relief. Try wearing everyday insoles to align your body, support your feet and lower limbs, as well as protect your joints.
Non weight bearing activities
Exercising in water is one of the best ways you can relieve chronic pain. You might not be able to do weights, but can you swim or cycle.
Exercise helps to make your body stronger and less susceptible to injury. You’ll also get an endorphin rush, which can help with managing pain. Exercise can also help manage weight and we know that weight gain makes it worse.
Holistic health team
Use the whole team of allied health professionals – chiropractor, osteopath, physiotherapy, podiatrist – used together they will be your dream team! Each practitioner has a unique set of skills and knowledge, complementing each other to ensure all bases are covered.
Rest, rest, rest!
If you need to rest, rest! It’s not indulgent. To know the limits of your body, is a vital part of managing chronic pain,. Remember that rest is not being lazy, it’s charging up your batteries for later. When you charge up your phone, it’s still working – it’s still useful - but the battery needs a boost Your body is the same.
So please don’t ever feel like it’s bad to rest. You deserve it.
Further support
Medicines can play a role in managing chronic pain, so you can use paracetamol, anticonvulsants, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and ibuprofen. Always speak to your doctor in relation to pain relief medication.
You can also ask to be referred to a pain management program at a pain clinic, available in most major public hospitals and privately.
Chronic Pain Australia has more information on chronic pain, as does The Australian Pain Management Association.
SynxBody support
We believe in making a positive impact by helping people maintain active, healthy and pain-free lives. We provide many options to support and relieve a variety of foot and lower limb conditions whilst also highlighting the importance of preventative healthcare. Please check out our range of products or Contact us at SynxBody to see how we can help you manage and treat all your foot and ankle pain conditions.
